The State of Alabama will pay $1 million to the two daughters of slain Bibb County Deputy Sheriff Bradley Johnson, who died in the line of duty last year, Gov. Kay Ivey announced. The amount is the maximum payout under Alabama law for such cases.
On June 29, 2022, Johnson and his colleague, Deputy Chris Poole, were shot by a suspect driving a stolen car in rural Bibb County.
After a 16-hour manhunt, Austin Patrick Hall was taken into custody and charged in the case. While Poole recovered from his gunshot wounds, Johnson succumbed to his injuries the following day.
RELATED: ‘Brad Johnson was a hero’: Tributes pour in for fallen Bibb County sheriff’s deputy
“Fundamental flaws in Alabama law granting correctional incentive ‘good time’ to inmates failed Deputy Johnson and his family,” said Ivey. “On January 9, I issued an executive order to halt the deficiencies in correctional good time that allowed inmates reduced prison sentences and early release despite records of violent behavior and escape.”
Last month, Hall was indicted on three counts of capital murder in the death of Johnson, one count of attempted murder, and one count of discharging a firearm into an occupied automobile.
“On April 14, I was also proud to sign into law SB1, which codifies further reforms to correctional good time to ensure that convicted felons no longer access loopholes in the law to threaten law enforcement and the public,” Ivey said.
In April, Attorney General Steve Marshall explained how SB1, known as the “Deputy Brad Johnson Act” was both a substantive and symbolic step in the right direction.
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“I think first of all it acknowledges and recognizes the life of Brad Johnson,” Marshall said. “We’re going to incentivize inmates not to harm one another, not to harm guards, and not to escape from prison.
“And then, beyond that, to make sure that we’re doing good time responsibly with regard to the number of days that are going to be granted to those that are eligible.”
Marshall and Ivey commended the bill’s author, Sen. April Weaver (R-Briarfield), who represents Bibb County.
“Alabama stands behind our law enforcement personnel and we must do all we can to ensure they are afforded every protection under the law to safely do their jobs,” Ivey said.
Grayson Everett is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @Grayson270
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